Jean-Antoine de Castellas (1735–1802), churchman and cantor of Lyon 1764

This portrait medallion of Jean-Antoine de Castellas, a churchman and cantor of Lyon, was made in 1784 by Jean-Baptiste Nini, using a material called terracotta. Nini was renowned for his skill in terracotta, elevating what was then considered a humble material, typically used for building or simple pottery, into the realm of fine art. In this medallion, the smooth, finely-grained terracotta allows for a high level of detail, capturing Castellas's likeness with remarkable precision. The process involved creating a mold, pressing the terracotta into it, and then carefully refining the surface. The circular format, reminiscent of ancient coins, gives the portrait a classical, timeless quality. But terracotta also had a wider social context. Its relative affordability, compared to materials like marble or bronze, meant that portrait medallions like this one could circulate among a broader segment of society. By embracing terracotta, Nini democratized portraiture, making it accessible beyond the aristocratic elite. This speaks to a shift in artistic practice, where materials and making became tools for social and cultural expression.